As we close out the story of Samson and his colorful life, we see God use him one final time. During this huge event where our hero is taunted and tortured, he calls out to God in prayer, "O Lord God, please remember me and the please strengthen me only this once, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes." And God answers him with a resounding victory by bringing down the arena filled with 3000 people. Scripture records that he killed more Philistines at his death, then the amount of men during his life and ministry as Israel's judge. 

Considering all the sins he committed, one would think God would let him reap the consequence of his lust, immorality, and drunkenness. Fortunately for him and for us the Lord is much more willing to forgive us than we realize. For many men the guilt and shame associated with sexual sin is extreme and often paralyzes any action of repentance and restitution. We should never let guilt and shame keep us from being restored to the Lord and to others. Isolation is the devils playground. 

If God could still answer Samson's prayers and use him to fulfill his will, just imagine what he could do through men who repent, turn back to God, and seek times of refreshing from the Lord (Acts 3:19 NIV).

- When was the last time you were honest with God about your sin?
- Do you have an accountability partner that cares about the condition of your soul?

​Now that Samson was apparently powerless, the Philistines throw a big party complete with wine, revelry, and entertainment. It must have been quite a spectacle with several thousand people attending. Turns out the entire event was a religious celebration giving credit to the seductive victory as a divine salvation provided by a pagan god named Dagon. 

Dagon is a West Semitic god of crop fertility, worshiped extensively throughout the ancient Middle East. Dagan was the Hebrew and Ugaritic common noun for “grain,” and the god Dagan was the legendary inventor of the plow. His cult is attested as early as about 2500 BC, and, according to texts found at Ras Shamra (ancient Ugarit), he was the father of the god Baal. Dagan had an important temple at Ras Shamra, and in Palestine, where he was particularly known as a god of the Philistines, he had several sanctuaries, including those at Beth-dagon in Asher (Joshua 19:27), Gaza (Judges 16:23), and Ashdod (1 Samuel 5:2–7).(*) Its believed that Dagon worship included human sacrifice, torture, and humiliation.  

After enjoying a great feast with lots of wine they decided to partake in one of their spectator sports by having most infamous enemy provide public entertainment. Were not given great detail to all the ways they would engage him but its not hard to imagine such things as mocking, spitting, hitting, plucking his beard, and any other form of regional debasement. Not realizing his strength had returned they put him in between the two main support beams for this arena. 

- How much do you accept the sovereignty of God in your life?
- Do you truly believe that the Lord our God is omnipresent and omniscient?

​(*) https://www.britannica.com/topic/Dagan

​It's not hard to imagine that in their final night together Delijah gives him a rousing evening of sex and lots of wine to the point he is unconscious, passed out on her knees fully exposed, and unaware that someone shaved his head. Even sadder is when he awakes he did not realize the Lord had left him (20).

Immediately after capturing our hero the Philistines gouge out his eyes.  Apparently the Philistines did not know if his strength could return or not, so they remove his eyes to minimize any future act of retribution or revenge.  Isn't it interesting that his eyes, which were the main channel of his lust for sex and foreign women, are forever destroyed? Do not be deceived God is not mocked, what a man sows that shall he also reap (Gal 6:7). It must of been humbling to go from mighty man of God to being bound with shackles, used for entertainment, and grinding grain in prison.

Sex is a great gift between husband and wife but a successful tool of the enemy outside of marriage. When Dopamine, Oxytocin and Vasopressin are released during sex between a man and a woman couples bond, they become one. Whenever men and women get involved in sexual relationships outside of marriage, it can cause much trouble. Consequently, both parties can lose the ability to see the relationship clearly. Samson is a classic example of being blinded by love to the point of being played a fool.

​- Are you aware of the dangers for having sex outside of marriage?
- Samson made a choice to live with Delilah. What choices are you making that could get you into a lot of trouble?

After the bribe Delilah is focused and persistent and wastes little time trying to get to the secret of his mighty powers. Perhaps he wondered why she needed this information, or perhaps it was a case of curiosity about the man she supposedly was in love with. In verse 6 she asks, “Please tell me where your great strength lies, and how you might be bound, that one could subdue you.” Hour hero responds with a fanciful tale which she immediately puts to the test. She does this to him three times.

He may have enjoyed the playfulness of toying with her and the Philistines. However, you would think after three attempts to learn the secret, and three attempts to take his life, he would never get to a place of trust with her again. Or at least throw her out of the house for being so toxic. Unfortunately, he had clouded feelings for her most likely because of her beauty and sexual prowess.  She continues to press him using all the tools at her disposal until he was to the point of being irritated and annoyed. Caught off balance,  and wore out, he reveals the truth. 

- What are your goals during a premarital relationship?
- Have you ever let someone talk or manipulate you into doing something wrong?

NOTE: Pornography is another mind killer and can form a quick addiction. Just because its virtual does not mean it wont impact your life and  mind. 

​Being consistent in his lust of the eyes and lust of the flesh we find Samson with a seductive woman named Delilah the primary romantic partner to our hero the Israelite judge. One can only imagine how physically attractive she was, but then again true evil is often masked by the worlds' beauty (2 Cor 11:14). Samson must have been smitten. Unfortunately, she is evil and is more interested in wealth than being loving and honorable. Once the Philistines discover her relationship with Samson, she conspires with the Philistines who offer her 1,100 pieces of silver if she will, "Seduce him, and see where his great strength lies." 

Throughout Samsons life we see him act without setting or keeping boundaries, the kind of boundaries that were clearly laid out in Scripture. Consequently, his sweet tooth for sex and physical pleasure made him an easy target for the enemy of God's people. This is one of many biblical illustrations where picking the right spouse and becoming one has lifetime implications. Centuries later we find the apostle Paul reminding the Corinthians on this very point, "Do not be decieved. Bad company corrupts good morals." (1 Cor 15:33). 

- If Satan were to seduce you, where would he find the kink in your armor?
- Are you tasting, touching, seeing, or feeding something inside you, that would lead to your downfall?

Were not sure what Samson’s behavior was like during this twenty years as Judge of Israel, but chances are he continued to feed his lust for women especially foreign females. This chapter begins by mentioning once again that Samson’s eyes were part of his conduct.  Upon “seeing” an attractive prostitute, he knowingly goes into her house of sexual business to feed his raging lust. 

During the night the men of Gaza, most likely Philistines, find out Samson was in the city enjoying her place of business, so they surround her home and lay in wait to capture and kill our hero. We’re not sure how he knows this, but after discovering the plot he makes a midnight escape destroying the city gate as he exits. 

In the book of James, we are given a description on the process of lust and how what happens when we say yes, “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death (1:14-15). When Samson saw the prostitute, he fully embraces the desire for sexual gratification. Unlike Samson, we are not always able to make such an escape.

- How often do you let your eyes feed your flesh?
- When was the last time you embraced the desire for sexual gratification?
- What were the results?

Samson's reputation as a strong man has grown to the point where the Philistines plan on using the people of Israel against our hero. Why should they endanger themselves further if they can manipulate someone else to do their dangerous bidding? The impelling force behind revenge is to get even and to carry out a private vendetta. Although Samson is a judge and doing God's will he is also acting on his emotions. Both parties are engaged in the revenge cycle (10-11).

In this part of his story, 3000 men side with the enemy by leaving their homes to find Samson, bind him, and turn him over to the Philistines. It appears that Samson was not too worried about being tied and led into enemy camp. This may have been the exact situation he was waiting for. After entering the camp the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon our hero and his bindings melted off his body.

Grabbing a jawbone of a donkey, Samson proceeds in the Spirit to inflict revenge on 1000 men. It's interesting to note he praises himself and not the Lord after his victory (16), “With the jawbone of a donkey, heaps upon heaps, with the jawbone of a donkey have I struck down a thousand men.” Once the enemy was conquered he threw away his weapon of war apparently quite proud of himself.

After killing so many men he must have been dehydrated and tired. In this weak state he is reminded of his need for the Lord. Could the Lord be using this situation to show him his own weakness? Perhaps. The story of Samson reveals little of his spiritual acts but in this part of his legacy, he finally calls out to the Lord for help. After the Lord provides a spring, our hero revives his strength.

• Have you ever felt like getting revenge on someone?
• What does it take for you to call out to God for help?

After such an intentional act it's pretty normal to find out who commited the fires and why. In this case it was not hard to figure out as I am sure Samson did not hide his anger or his actions. The saddest part of his quick rush to action is the cost to his father-in-law and young wife. Together they were burned alive as promised earlier by the Philistine leaders (14:15). 

It's not surprising to see our hero make a vow of vengeance in response to this heinous act (8). The interesting part of the original Hebrew is how he attacked the enemies of God's people. Most versions interpret this as an attack to the hip and thigh but this could also mean a shoulder or lower leg (H7785). The thigh could also be shaft or something from the root word soft (H3409). Regardless of the language we know his attack was violent and strong as per his already demonstrated behaviors and scripture describes. 

Were not sure exactly why after giving them some retribution, our hero find a cleft in a rock (this could also be a cave). Considering his strength it would not be out of fear. It's most likely he needed to think and wait for another opportunity to further avenge the Philistine actions against the people of Israel. Could the outcome be different if our strong man took some time to seek the Lord? Isn't it interesting that in all these stories of physical strength we see little of his spiritual life. 

• Given the same circumstances, how would you react?
• Is it always wrong to take revenge?
• When should a man find a cave or cleft to hide in?

(H7785 & H3409) Enhanced Strongs Lexicon

Historians are not quite sure who to credit with the quote, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder," or "Time heals all wounds." In either case its not always true but it is in the heart of our hero. Were not sure how long it took but his disposition changed toward this wife and her betrayal. Like most guys who want to make amends they buy flowers or some other kind of gift. In a typical guy kind of fashion he secures a suitable gift and heads off to meet her most likely for a physical union.
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Unfortunately, since his anger was so hot the father assumed the marriage was over and Samson would hate her forever. With this in mind he gives Samson's wife to one of the companions who most likely was a Philistine. This of course infuriated our hero. Consequently, Samson rounded up 300 hundred foxes, tied their tails together and set fires ablaze in the Philistines grain stores, fields, and olive orchards as vengeance.

- How do you act when your expectations are not met?
- How do you feel when someone you think you love betrays you?
- Is it always wrong to take vengeance on someone who has wronged you?